Prime Minister Anwar tells UPNM: No tolerance for bullying and abuse in educational institutions, no more pulse for perpetrators

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 1 — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim today stressed that Putrajaya will not tolerate the culture of bullying in educational institutions.

Speaking at a dialogue event at the University Pertahanan Nasional Malaysia (UPNM), Anwar said the issue of bullying has become systemic and is therefore a challenge that needs to be addressed by everyone from the institutions and relevant ministries.

“It is a small group that does not represent all students, but the culture allows it… a culture of violence, bullying and gangsterism within the education system in national, Chinese, Tamil, Tahfiz and religious schools.

“This is madness. We talk about knowledge, but we don’t realize that discipline is essential in training people. Humanity and knowledge are the key to understanding,” he said here.

Anwar said authorities are currently taking a soft and compromising attitude towards bullies, even allowing abuse to take place.

‘I told the Minister of Education: make no compromises. I warned and advised not to tolerate it at all, because we do not want it to happen as a separate phenomenon embedded in the culture,” he said, referring to Minister Fadhlina Sidek.

This comes as the Malaysian Armed Forces (MAF) released a statement saying they are investigating the matter at the Military Training Academy in UPNM.

The case involved a senior who allegedly pressed a hot iron against the cadet officer’s chest, leaving burn marks.

Armed Forces chief General Tan Sri Mohammad Ab Rahman later said the MAF would not compromise with parties involved in the case.